I'm your worst nightmare.

[Sierra]

<El-Cideon> OOC: Alright, couple notes first. Battle area's about 100 feet square, Elgin and Ivo are standing next to each other in the center with a ring of goons about 10 feet away from them (three of the Nazis have rifles, the other three are standard goons). Cops are lining the walls in the corners on either side of the doorway, 'bout ten feet apart from each other.
<Yomi> OOC: Since we (I, Erin and Rena) are a bit past the cops, that would make us under 50ft away from Ivo and Elgin?
<Erin> OOC: Curses, my webbing will lack purchase!
<El-Cideon> Edge of the battle area's lined with crates and furniture and other chaff. Standing behind it'll get you some cover bonuses but you'll also be far enough away from the center that you'll get some range penalties for shooting. Nadia I assume is somewhere in that out ring, so 40-45 feet from goons. And yeah, Yomi, that's about right. You came in at the door as I recall.
<El-Cideon> OOC: Also feel free to dictate what weapon Rena's using. Her attack rolls will suffer a little with the sword but she will do vastly more damage when she connects.
<Yomi> OOC: Let's try the sword
<El-Cideon> OOC: okay. I think that's everything, so let's roll init.
<Nadia_Chekova> OOC: I'll take my surprise round first!
<El-Cideon> OOC: Oh yeah! Should roll hide vs spot first. Do that and then we'll go if no one notices you?
<Nadia_Chekova> roll 1d20+15 hidan
* Hatbot --> "Nadia_Chekova rolls 1d20+15 hidan and gets 26."12 [1d20=11]
<El-Cideon> OOC: right, no one can beat that, so just take your turn. >.>
<Nadia_Chekova> Time to die? To hell with that monstrous English nazi wannabe! She'll make sure he never hurts anyone ever again! "You killed my mother you bastard!" Nadia yells as she explodes out from her hiding place atop the crates, surging around the dumbfounded nazis and leaping up in a mighty roundhouse kick to break Elgin's neck, holding back none of her lethal intent!
<Nadia_Chekova> roll 1d20+11 charge
* Hatbot --> "Nadia_Chekova rolls 1d20+11 charge and gets 28."12 [1d20=17]
<Nadia_Chekova> roll 1d8+2
* Hatbot --> "Nadia_Chekova rolls 1d8+2 and gets 8."12 [1d8=6]
<El-Cideon> OOC: hit.
<El-Cideon> There's a sound *smack* as Nadia's foot slams into Elgin's head. He reels and grunts in pain, but somehow seems less staggered by this than a normal person would. HE turns and fixes a penetrating glare on Nadia as all hell breaks loose in the warehouse! OOC: okay, now init.
<Yomi> roll 1d20+1
* Hatbot --> "Yomi rolls 1d20+1 and gets 5."12 [1d20=4]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20 Rena
<Erin> roll 1d20+7 TIME TO wish I knew fireball
* Hatbot --> "Erin rolls 1d20+7 TIME TO wish I knew fireball and gets 22."12 [1d20=15]
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20 Rena and gets 18."12 [1d20=18]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20-1 Ivo
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20-1 Ivo and gets 1."12 [1d20=2]
<Nadia_Chekova> roll 1d20+7
* Hatbot --> "Nadia_Chekova rolls 1d20+7 and gets 20."12 [1d20=13]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20 Elgin
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20 Elgin and gets 10."12 [1d20=10]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+3 cops x10
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+3 cops x10 and gets 15."12 [1d20=12]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+7 Nazi riflemen
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+7 Nazi riflemen and gets 8."12 [1d20=1]
<El-Cideon> roll 1de20+2 Nazi footsoldier x3
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1de20+2 Nazi footsoldier x3 and gets Error: Number of sides must be integer greater than 0."12
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+2 Nazi footsoldier x3
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+2 Nazi footsoldier x3 and gets 4."12 [1d20=2]
* Retrieving #HometownHeroes modes...
* El-Cideon changes topic to 'Erin (22) > Nadia (20) > Rena (18) > Cops x10 (15) > Elgin (10) > Nazi Riflemen (8) > Yomi (5) > Nazi Footsoldiers (4) > Ivo (1)'
<El-Cideon> "Protect me, men!" Ivo yells. "Elgin, deal with the police!" OOC: Erin, go.
<Erin> Erin slaps her hand on Yomi's shoulder, whispering a Word that enshrouds the asian woman in a hazy mist! (It is a blur)
* El-Cideon changes topic to 'Erin (22) > Nadia (20) > Rena (18) > Cops x10 (15) > Elgin (10) > Nazi Riflemen (8) > Yomi (5, Blur) > Nazi Footsoldiers (4) > Ivo (1)'
<El-Cideon> OOC: Nadia.
<Nadia_Chekova> He feels pain, that's good enough for her. He's about to feel a lot more of it, Nadia resolves as she takes a step back to recover her balance after that heedless charge, raising her leg and then driving her foot down with shattering force at his kneecap!
<Nadia_Chekova> roll 1d20+9
* Hatbot --> "Nadia_Chekova rolls 1d20+9 and gets 23."12 [1d20=14]
<El-Cideon> OOC: hit.
<Nadia_Chekova> roll 1d8+2
* Hatbot --> "Nadia_Chekova rolls 1d8+2 and gets 5."12 [1d8=3]
<El-Cideon> Another *thud* as Nadia kicks the big Englishman, but this time he doesn't seem bothered or hardmed in the slightest by the blow. By the entryway, Rena charges forward at the front row of riflemen with her sword!
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+6 charging
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+6 charging and gets 15."12 [1d20=9]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d10+5 damage
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d10+5 damage and gets 7."12 [1d10=2]
<El-Cideon> Rena slashes a broad gash across one of the riflemen as the cops open fire on the rest!
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+6
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+6
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+6
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+6
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+6 and gets 25."12 [1d20=19]
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+6 and gets 22."12 [1d20=16]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+6
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+6
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+6 and gets 21."12 [1d20=15]
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+6 and gets 15."12 [1d20=9]
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+6 and gets 12."12 [1d20=6]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+6
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+6 and gets 8."12 [1d20=2]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+6
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+6 and gets 8."12 [1d20=2]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+6
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+6 and gets 18."12 [1d20=12]
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+6 and gets 10."12 [1d20=4]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+6
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+6 and gets 12."12 [1d20=6]
<El-Cideon> roll 5#2d6
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 5#2d6 and gets 37."12 [5#2d6 = 9, 8, 8, 7, 5]
<El-Cideon> Rena's enemy and another of the riflemen go down in a hail of bullets! Elgin extends one arm towards the policemen on the left side of the room, muttering under his breath; a ball of flame gathers in the palm of his hand and then shoots towards the men!
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+20 concentration he really can't fail these
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+20 concentration he really can't fail these and gets 27."12 [1d20=7]
<El-Cideon> roll 10d6 fire damage, hits 3 of them
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 10d6 fire damage, hits 3 of them and gets 40."12 [10d6=6, 6, 4, 6, 4, 1, 2, 3, 4, 4]
<El-Cideon> roll 3#1d20+6 oh god reflex
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 3#1d20+6 oh god reflex and gets 62."12 [3#1d20+6 = 26, 26, 10]
<El-Cideon> A burst of searing flame explodes and incinerates one of the men instantly, leaving the other two badly seared!
<El-Cideon> The remaining rifleman backs away a few feet and opens fire on Nadia!
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+8
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+8 and gets 19."12 [1d20=11]
<El-Cideon> roll 2d10+1 damage ow that's barely a hit
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 2d10+1 damage ow that's barely a hit and gets 7."12 [2d10=1, 5]
<Nadia_Chekova> OOC: hey
<Nadia_Chekova> OOC: I'm in melee with elgin
<El-Cideon> OOC: they have precise shot
<Nadia_Chekova> OOC: which is -8 to their attacks, -4 if they have precise shot
<El-Cideon> OOC: no, it's -4 normally, no penalty with precise shot
<Nadia_Chekova> OOC: but I have a feat!
<Nadia_Chekova> OOC: elusive target
<El-Cideon> OOC: checks, forgot that one
<El-Cideon> OOC: ah, correct. Lucky!
<El-Cideon> The bullet goes wild, however! OOC: Yomi
<Yomi> Filled with disgust at Ivo's pathetic attempt to save his worthless hide by ordering his men to die for him as fodder, Yomi amends something in her perception. Elgin was already the same as a demon, a monster to be slain, and now the Nazi Doctor joins those ranks in her mind.
<Yomi> There are no further thoughts of taking him alive, be it for questioning or to appeal to her conscience, and she charges Doctor Ivo, sliding into a crouch as she comes close and then unsheathing her blade, slashing upwards violently!
<Yomi> roll 1d20+10+1d6 (charge, action point, -4 pa)
* Hatbot --> "Yomi rolls 1d20+10+1d6 (charge, action point, -4 pa) and gets 24."12 [1d20=13][1d6=1]
<El-Cideon> OOC: hit
<Yomi> roll 2d6+9+8
* Hatbot --> "Yomi rolls 2d6+9+8 and gets 23."12 [2d6=2, 4]
<Yomi> roll 1d20+10 surge!
* Hatbot --> "Yomi rolls 1d20+10 surge! and gets 23."12 [1d20=13]
<El-Cideon> OOC: also hit
<Yomi> roll 2d6+9+8
* Hatbot --> "Yomi rolls 2d6+9+8 and gets 23."12 [2d6=4, 2]
<Yomi> After trailing her sword through Ivo's body, Yomi slashes harshly through his scrawny neck!
<El-Cideon> Ivo is nearly torn to shreds, barely standing as flesh and muscle are brutally cut apart by Yomi's flashing blade! Choking on blood, he manages to yelp, "That one, kill her!" and the remaining goons train their pistols on Yomi!
<El-Cideon> roll 3#1d20+5
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 3#1d20+5 and gets 55."12 [3#1d20+5 = 18, 14, 23]
<Yomi> "You think you can kill me?" Yomi asks him, splattered in the man's blood. "I am your death!"
<Yomi> OOC: AC19 due to charging, blur?
<El-Cideon> OOC: yeah, only one should have a chance of hitting.
<El-Cideon> roll 1d100 for miss chance yay blur
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d100 for miss chance yay blur and gets 51."12 [1d100=51]
<El-Cideon> roll 2d4+1 damage
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 2d4+1 damage and gets 9."12 [2d4=4, 4]
<El-Cideon> Yomi takes a bullet in the thigh, though surely this won't be enough to stop her righteous fury! Ivo backs away a few feet, drawing something from a coat pocket, a sky-blue marble, cloudy, as though something were sloshing about inside. Raising his hand in the air, he throws the object at the ground where it explodes into a bilious cloud! (more)
<El-Cideon> From the cloud a formless mass emerges, a boiling, stinking glob of acidic goo that expands into a mobile blob ten feet wide. "Go!" Ivo shouts. "Consume everything that lives!"
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20-1 bile blob
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20-1 bile blob and gets 10."12 [1d20=11]
* El-Cideon changes topic to 'Erin (22) > Nadia (20) > Rena (18) > Cops x10 (15) > Elgin = Bile Blob (10) > Nazi Riflemen (8) > Yomi (5, Blur) > Nazi Footsoldiers (4) > Ivo (1)'
<El-Cideon> OOC: Erin
<Yomi> "Rena, end Ivo for good!" Yomi calls over to their german ally, who has more than deserved to have the man die on her blade.
<Erin> roll 1d20+14 knowing things is what I do
* Hatbot --> "Erin rolls 1d20+14 knowing things is what I do and gets 17."12 [1d20=3]
<Erin> "Get away from that thing, it's indiscriminate!" yells Erin, a sudden panic leading her to draw her gun and fire a couple of shots towards the escaping doctor!
<Erin> roll 1d20+4
* Hatbot --> "Erin rolls 1d20+4 and gets 11."12 [1d20=7]
<Erin> roll 1d20+4 heroic surge!!!
* Hatbot --> "Erin rolls 1d20+4 heroic surge!!! and gets 15."12 [1d20=11]
<El-Cideon> OOC: second one hits
<Erin> roll 2d6 it'sl ike getting stabbed with a greatsword
* Hatbot --> "Erin rolls 2d6 it'sl ike getting stabbed with a greatsword and gets 7."12 [2d6=4, 3]
<El-Cideon> Ivo takes a bullet to the gut, clutching his stomach and screaming in pain but somehow still alive! OOC: Nadia
<Nadia_Chekova> Stepping back to centre herself, Nadia glares at Elgin and takes note of the expanding glob behind him, a vicious smirk forming on her lips. Lashing out with another kick, instead of striking she plants her sole on his stomach and pushes off with all her strength to try and knock him into the goo!
<Nadia_Chekova> roll 1d20+2+1d6 opposed strength, action point
* Hatbot --> "Nadia_Chekova rolls 1d20+2+1d6 opposed strength, action point and gets 11."12 [1d20=6][1d6=3]
* El-Cideon changes topic to 'Erin (22) > Nadia (20) > Rena (18) > Cops x9 (15) > Elgin = Bile Blob (10) > Nazi Rifleman (8) > Yomi (5, Blur) > Nazi Footsoldiers x 3 (4) > Ivo (1)'
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+4 he's stronger than you might expect
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+4 he's stronger than you might expect and gets 6."12 [1d20=2]
<El-Cideon> Elgin is shoved back right next to the gelatinous creature, which takes advantage of his proximity to lash out at him with a pseudopod!
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+9 AoO, it has reach and you pushed him into its range
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+9 AoO, it has reach and you pushed it into its range and gets 23."12 [1d20=14]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d8+9+1d4 acid
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d8+9+1d4 acid and gets 11."12 [1d8=1][1d4=1]
<El-Cideon> Acid coats the Englishman, smoke rising from where it boils away at his skin and clothes. He snarls in rage! Meanwhile, Rena nods to Yomi's command. "I think I would be satisfied if you stopped living now," she says calmly, before charging forward!
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+6
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+6 and gets 14."12 [1d20=8]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d10+5 damage, yes his defense is that dreadful
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d10+5 damage, yes his defense is that dreadful and gets 9."12 [1d10=4]
<El-Cideon> Rena's charge opens Ivo's stomach up and he falls to the ground vainly trying to hold himself together; his eyes roll back in his head and he collapses from the pain! Meanwhile, the cops seem to decide that Elgin's the greater threat and focus their fire on him!
* El-Cideon changes topic to 'Erin (22) > Nadia (20) > Rena (18) > Cops x9 (15) > Elgin = Bile Blob (10) > Nazi Rifleman (8) > Yomi (5, Blur) > Nazi Footsoldiers x 3 (4) > Ivo (1, dying)'
<El-Cideon> roll 9#1d20+6
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 9#1d20+6 and gets 167."12 [9#1d20+6 = 16, 22, 23, 8, 25, 22, 22, 11, 18]
<El-Cideon> roll 7#2d6
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 7#2d6 and gets 53."12 [7#2d6 = 5, 7, 9, 8, 7, 9, 8]
<El-Cideon> A wall of bullets slams into Elgin, but this does nothing to quell his rage at Nadia's interference. Ignoring the policemen and his orders, his fastens his eyes on Nadia and barks a single, obscene syllable that reaches into her very mind!
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+20 concentration yeahhh
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+20 concentration yeahhh and gets 35."12 [1d20=15]
<El-Cideon> OOC: will save?
<Nadia_Chekova> roll 1d20+1+1d6 action point 'cause my will sucks
* Hatbot --> "Nadia_Chekova rolls 1d20+1+1d6 action point 'cause my will sucks and gets 26."12 [1d20=20][1d6=5]
<El-Cideon> But Nadia shrugs off the sensation of overwhelming terror that threatens to overtake her, remaining resolute! Meanwhile, the blob takes advantage of Elgin's proximity to attack him again!
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+9
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+9 and gets 19."12 [1d20=10]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d8+9+1d4 acid
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d8+9+1d4 acid and gets 13."12 [1d8=1][1d4=3]
<El-Cideon> The remaining rifleman continues training his sights on Nadia, opening fire again!
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+8
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+8 and gets 20."12 [1d20=12]
<Nadia_Chekova> OOC: alas, I'm no longer in melee
<El-Cideon> OOC: indeed
<El-Cideon> roll 2d10+1
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 2d10+1 and gets 10."12 [2d10=6, 3]
<El-Cideon> The shot tears throughs Nadia' midsection, leaving a gaping exit wound! OOC: Yomi.
* Nadia_Chekova screams as the bullet rips through her stomach in a shower of blood, nearly knocking her off her feet!
* Yomi grins almost gleefully, taking a step forward and raising her sword to shoulder level, holding it pointed towards Elgin's chest. "What was it that you said?" she asks even as she jabs it swiftly into his chest three times in succession. "Time to die!"
<Yomi> roll 1d20+10 (flanking, -4pa)
* Hatbot --> "Yomi rolls 1d20+10 (flanking, -4pa) and gets 19."12 [1d20=9]
<Yomi> roll 1d20+5+1d6
* Hatbot --> "Yomi rolls 1d20+5+1d6 and gets 18."12 [1d20=7][1d6=6]
<Yomi> roll 1d20+10 surge
* Hatbot --> "Yomi rolls 1d20+10 surge and gets 25."12 [1d20=15]
<El-Cideon> OOC: all hit.
<Yomi> roll 3#2d6+9+8
* Hatbot --> "Yomi rolls 3#2d6+9+8 and gets 77."12 [3#2d6+9+8 = 21, 27, 29]
<El-Cideon> Elgin's body weeps blood from cuts all over, but he still stands strong somehow with unnatural determination! "You're next!" he shouts in a voice that's more primal rage than anything human. Meanwhile, the trio of Nazi grunts focus on Rena as she stands over the wreck of Ivo's body.
<El-Cideon> roll 3#1d20+5
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 3#1d20+5 and gets 28."12 [3#1d20+5 = 9, 9, 10]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+6 fort check for Ivo stabilization
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+6 fort check for Ivo stabilization and gets 26."12 [1d20=20]
* El-Cideon changes topic to 'Erin (22) > Nadia (20) > Rena (18) > Cops x9 (15) > Elgin = Bile Blob (10) > Nazi Rifleman (8) > Yomi (5, Blur) > Nazi Footsoldiers x 3 (4) > Ivo (1, stabilized)'
<El-Cideon> OOC: Erin
<Erin> Erin remains halfway behind a crate, and clicks off another round towards Elgin. The crack of the gun in her hand seems impossibly loud; the signal that she's trying to end a life (amongst many others doing the same) seems the only thing she can focus on.
<Erin> roll 1d20+4
* Hatbot --> "Erin rolls 1d20+4 and gets 24."12 [1d20=20]
<El-Cideon> OOC: haha, roll confirmation?
<Erin> roll 1d20+4 well I'll be action pointing this, methinks
* Hatbot --> "Erin rolls 1d20+4 well I'll be action pointing this, methinks and gets 22."12 [1d20=18]
<Erin> OOC: Wait, do I need to?
<Erin> roll 4d6 well then
* Hatbot --> "Erin rolls 4d6 well then and gets 14."12 [4d6=4, 2, 2, 6]
<Erin> roll 1d20+4 SURRRRGE
<El-Cideon> OOC: totally hits, yeah.
* Hatbot --> "Erin rolls 1d20+4 SURRRRGE and gets 11."12 [1d20=7]
<El-Cideon> OOC: that doesn't.
<Erin> OOC: I thought not.
<El-Cideon> Erin's bullet tears a chunk out of Elgin's throat. Somehow, maddeningly, he stays standing and ranting at his enemies, his voice more of an inhuman mess than usual now! "AllL of you are goING to burn! If not today then later! TIME IS ON MY SIDE." OOC: Nadia
<Yomi> "Your kind has been saying that for aeons!" Yomi snarls back.
<Nadia_Chekova> Why won't he die?! Turning on the nazi who shot her with murder in her eyes, one hand holding her shot stomach, she stalks over and chops at his wrist before her bloody hand shoots out to snatch the gun away while his grip is momentarily slackened!
<Nadia_Chekova> roll 1d20+9 disarm
* Hatbot --> "Nadia_Chekova rolls 1d20+9 disarm and gets 22."12 [1d20=13]
<El-Cideon> Open surprise is obvious on the soldier's face as his wounded target not only lives, but rushes forwards and seizes his weapon from him! Meanwhile, Rena rushes forward to engage the group of soldiers shooting at her.
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+6
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+6 and gets 19."12 [1d20=13]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d10+5 damage
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d10+5 damage and gets 12."12 [1d10=7]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+4 surge sure
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+4 surge sure and gets 17."12 [1d20=13]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d10+5
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d10+5 and gets 12."12 [1d10=7]
<El-Cideon> Rena hacks off a soldier's head while the cops continue their focused fire on Elgin!
<El-Cideon> roll 9#1d20+6
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 9#1d20+6 and gets 164."12 [9#1d20+6 = 17, 20, 18, 16, 25, 7, 16, 21, 24]
<El-Cideon> roll 6#2d6 it'll suck if they killsteal
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 6#2d6 it'll suck if they killsteal and gets 35."12 [6#2d6 = 4, 8, 3, 9, 8, 3]
<El-Cideon> Again bullets riddle Elgin's body. He's a shambling mess of shredded meat and muscle that just refuses to be put down! He turns to move away from his immediate attackers, but before he does he gestures in the air and mutters an arcane word at Yomi!
<El-Cideon> OOC: will save
<Yomi> roll 1d20+3+1d6
* Hatbot --> "Yomi rolls 1d20+3+1d6 and gets 14."12 [1d20=9][1d6=2]
<Erin> roll 1d20+11 spellcraftin
* Hatbot --> "Erin rolls 1d20+11 spellcraftin and gets 13."12 [1d20=2]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+20 belated concentration check for completeness yay formalities
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+20 belated concentration check for completeness yay formalities and gets 24."12 [1d20=4]
<El-Cideon> Bands of invisible iron wrap around Yomi's body, keeping her firmly locked in place! She can't move or even speak as Elgin bolts towards the door!
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+9 blob gets an AoO as he tries to run
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+9 blob gets an AoO as he tries to run and gets 12."12 [1d20=3]
<El-Cideon> OOC: alas.
<Yomi> OOC: Blob also attacks on the same init! And still has my flanking for it.
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+11 (previous hit wouldn't have connected even with bonus)
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+11 (previous hit wouldn't have connected even with bonus) and gets 23."12 [1d20=12]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d8+9+1d4 acid
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d8+9+1d4 acid and gets 19."12 [1d8=7][1d4=3]
<El-Cideon> The blob lashes out at Elgin as he makes his escape, scoring another searing acid strike against his back! the disarmed rifleman draws a knife and slashes at Nadia!
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+5
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+5 and gets 20."12 [1d20=15]
<Nadia_Chekova> OOC: AC 20 vs melee
<El-Cideon> roll 1d4+2 damage
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d4+2 damage and gets 3."12 [1d4=1]
<El-Cideon> It's a scratch compared to the bullet wound she took before, however, a light graze drawing blood from her arm.
* El-Cideon changes topic to 'Erin (22) > Nadia (20) > Rena (18) > Cops x9 (15) > Elgin = Bile Blob (10) > Nazi Rifleman (8, disarmed) > Yomi (5, Blur, Hold Person 10 rounds) > Nazi Footsoldiers x 2 (4) > Ivo (1, stabilized)'
<El-Cideon> The two soldiers by Rena again try to gun her down, backing away a little in fear after seeing the fate of their fallen partner
<El-Cideon> roll 2#1d20+5
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 2#1d20+5 and gets 19."12 [2#1d20+5 = 9, 10]
<El-Cideon> But again their shots go wild in their panic! OOC: Erin. Elgin's within gun range by now, so no more penalties.
<Erin> Erin checks her can, and holds it aside for a moment. Her magic is certainly not as mighty as Elgin's- but the right spell in the right place can make all the difference! Strands of sticky webbing leap forth from her fingertips to trap him within the warehouse!
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+4 ref is his bad save
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+4 ref is his bad save and gets 18."12 [1d20=14]
<El-Cideon> Elgin manages to dodge being directly caught by the strands, but he still stands amidst the web, boding ill for future attempts to run! OOC: Nadia.
* Nadia_Chekova shoulders the knife-wielding nazi away from her, stepping back to get some room as she raises her purloined rifle and sights down it, aiming for square in Elgin's back as she pulls the trigger!
<Nadia_Chekova> roll 1d20+3+1d6 action point
* Hatbot --> "Nadia_Chekova rolls 1d20+3+1d6 action point and gets 17."12 [1d20=8][1d6=6]
<El-Cideon> OOC: just barely a hit!
<Nadia_Chekova> roll 2d10 i want my mother back you son of a bitch!
* Hatbot --> "Nadia_Chekova rolls 2d10 i want my mother back you son of a bitch! and gets 8."12 [2d10=2, 6]
<El-Cideon> Rena charges another soldier!
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+6
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+6 and gets 7."12 [1d20=1]
<El-Cideon> But this attack overshoots her target and fails miserably! The cops make one more attempt to gun down Elgi before he can flee.
<El-Cideon> roll 9#1d20+6 killstealing?
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 9#1d20+6 killstealing? and gets 100."12 [9#1d20+6 = 14, 7, 22, 7, 13, 14, 7, 8, 8]
<El-Cideon> roll 2d6 damage wow guys
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 2d6 damage wow guys and gets 5."12 [2d6=4, 1]
<El-Cideon> But this fusillade of bullets only strikes the concrete around Elgin to no effect, only Nadia's vengeful shot having any impact!
<El-Cideon> With an animal roar, Elgin seems to bulk up in brute strength and ferocity! Struggled forward, her tries to push his way through the tangle of sticky strands!
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+6 strength checkl
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+6 strength checkl and gets 11."12 [1d20=5]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d100
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d100 and gets 31."12 [1d100=31]
<El-Cideon> The blob oozes over to its summoner and envelops Ivo's prone body, crushing and disntegrating the fallen scientist! Meanwhile, the disarmed rifleman continues slashing at Nadia!
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+5 stabby stabby
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+5 stabby stabby and gets 23."12 [1d20=18]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d4+2 damage
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d4+2 damage and gets 3."12 [1d4=1]
<El-Cideon> But it's merely another graze, close combat apparently not being this soldier's area of expertise! Again, his remaining comrades focus on shooting down the threat amidst them!
<El-Cideon> roll 2#1d20+5
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 2#1d20+5 and gets 27."12 [2#1d20+5 = 19, 8]
<El-Cideon> roll 2d4+1 the 19 hits her
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 2d4+1 the 19 hits her and gets 7."12 [2d4=2, 4]
<El-Cideon> A spatter of green ichor dots the concrete floor as a bullet tears through Rena's side! OOC: Erin
* El-Cideon changes topic to 'Erin (22) > Nadia (20) > Rena (18) > Cops x9 (15) > Elgin = Bile Blob (10) > Nazi Rifleman (8, disarmed) > Yomi (5, Blur, Hold Person 10 rounds) > Nazi Footsoldiers x 2 (4)'
<Erin> Seeing the immobile Yomi in some danger of being consumed by for what is all intents and purposes a mobile stomach, Erin makes a mad dash towards her and attempts to pull her out of the way!
* El-Cideon changes topic to 'Erin (22) > Nadia (20) > Rena (18) > Cops x9 (15) > Elgin = Bile Blob (10) > Nazi Rifleman (8, disarmed) > Yomi (5, Blur, Hold Person 8 rounds) > Nazi Footsoldiers x 2 (4)'
<El-Cideon> OOC: Nadia
* Nadia_Chekova continues ducking away from her knife-wielding assailant, the knife-cuts barely felt compared to the searing cauldron of agony that her stomach has become. But all of that pales compared to the burning need for revenge that can only be sated by putting a bullet in Elgin's head!
<Nadia_Chekova> roll 1d20+3+1d6
* Hatbot --> "Nadia_Chekova rolls 1d20+3+1d6 and gets 26."12 [1d20=19][1d6=4]
<El-Cideon> OOC: hiiiit
<Nadia_Chekova> roll 2d10 tease
* Hatbot --> "Nadia_Chekova rolls 2d10 tease and gets 13."12 [2d10=4, 9]
<Nadia_Chekova> roll 1d20+3+1d6 dunno if action points carry over to confirmations
* Hatbot --> "Nadia_Chekova rolls 1d20+3+1d6 dunno if action points carry over to confirmations and gets 26."12 [1d20=17][1d6=6]
<Nadia_Chekova> roll 2d10 if it is a crit
* Hatbot --> "Nadia_Chekova rolls 2d10 if it is a crit and gets 3."12 [2d10=1, 2]
<El-Cideon> The bullet takes Elgin in the back of the head, meat and bone flying off! somehow he remains standing, if barely!
<El-Cideon> Rena takes another pair of swings at her nearest assailant!
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+4
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+4 and gets 17."12 [1d20=13]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+4 surge
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+4 surge and gets 12."12 [1d20=8]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d10+5 only one hit
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d10+5 only one hit and gets 8."12 [1d10=3]
<El-Cideon> Another barrage from the cops as they try to finish off the stumbling Elgin!
<El-Cideon> roll 9#1d20+6
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 9#1d20+6 and gets 156."12 [9#1d20+6 = 15, 17, 8, 16, 24, 26, 21, 15, 14]
<El-Cideon> roll 4#2d6 damage
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 4#2d6 damage and gets 38."12 [4#2d6 = 12, 9, 7, 10]
* El-Cideon changes topic to 'Erin (22) > Nadia (20) > Rena (18) > Cops x9 (15) > Elgin (dying) = Bile Blob (10) > Nazi Rifleman (8, disarmed) > Yomi (5, Blur, Hold Person 8 rounds) > Nazi Footsoldiers x 2 (4)'
<El-Cideon> Finally, he falls, tumbling to a bloody heap amidst Erin's web!
<El-Cideon> roll 1d100
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d100 and gets 53."12 [1d100=53]
<El-Cideon> The blob oozes after Erin as she tries to drag Yomi away, taking a swing at the retreaing mage!
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+9
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+9 and gets 24."12 [1d20=15]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d8+9+1d4 acid
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d8+9+1d4 acid and gets 16."12 [1d8=6][1d4=1]
<El-Cideon> Acid sears at Erin as the blob's pseudopod brutally impacts her! The Nazis, meanwhile, seeing both their leaders down, collectively drop their weapons and raise their hands in the air, some of them edging quite obviously away from the blob! OOC: Erin.
<Erin> Erin almost drops Yomi at the assault, as the sudden pain seems to take hold of her entire body. Somehow, she manages to keep dragging the other woman (and herself) away from the creature. "Help!"
* Nadia_Chekova tries shooting at the blob, for lack of any better ideas. "How do we stop this thing?!"
<Nadia_Chekova> roll 1d20+3
* Hatbot --> "Nadia_Chekova rolls 1d20+3 and gets 13."12 [1d20=10]
<El-Cideon> OOC: hit, it's large and its defense is horrible
<Nadia_Chekova> roll 2d10
* Hatbot --> "Nadia_Chekova rolls 2d10 and gets 8."12 [2d10=3, 5]
<Erin> "Shoot it!"
<El-Cideon> Taking the cue, Rena charges at the blob instead of worrying about the surrendered soldiers!
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+9 provokes AoO entering its space
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+9 provokes AoO entering its space and gets 10."12 [1d20=1]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+6 haha no
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+6 haha no and gets 7."12 [1d20=1]
<El-Cideon> Rena and the blob both fail to strike each other, while the cops open fire on the shambling mass of protoplasm!
<El-Cideon> roll 9#1d20+6
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 9#1d20+6 and gets 148."12 [9#1d20+6 = 13, 13, 11, 18, 14, 19, 22, 20, 18]
<El-Cideon> roll 9#2d6 woooow guys
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 9#2d6 woooow guys and gets 70."12 [9#2d6 = 9, 7, 8, 4, 9, 8, 9, 9, 7]
<El-Cideon> Bullets rip the blob to shreds of stray goo and the motivating force behind it dissipates, leaving only a smoking patch of seared concrete behind it!
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+7 fort check for Elgin stabilization for what it matters
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+7 fort check for Elgin stabilization for what it matters and gets 21."12 [1d20=14]
<El-Cideon> OOC: free act now, anywho
<Nadia_Chekova> "Urgh..." Groaning, Nadia staggers over towards the fallen Elgin to check he's really dead.
<El-Cideon> He's breathing. Somehow.
* Erin manages to lean the oddly rigid Yomi up against a crate, and she shortly slides down to sit alongside her and muse over the bloody scene before her.
<Nadia_Chekova> "This is for my mother, you son of a bitch," Nadia hisses in her native French, pressing the gun against his skull before she pulls the trigger.
<El-Cideon> BLAM. Elgin's head shatters into a thousand fragments of brain and bone scattered on the floor. He is quite dead.
<El-Cideon> Soon enough, Yomi finds she can mvoe freely again.
<Nadia_Chekova> Grimly satisfied, Nadia leans on a crate for support, clutching her stomach in one hand as she covers the nazis with the gun in her other. "What do we do with the rest?" she asks, breathing raggedly.
<El-Cideon> Rena wanders over to her companions, sword dripping blood. "Are we finished here?" she asks calmly. Bleeding profusely seems a mild inconvenience.
<El-Cideon> The cops are moving in to round up the remaining Nazis. At the doorway, Justine and her bodyguard have arrived. "Well, this is an ungodly mess," she says, surveying the scene. "I thought this was going to be quiet?"
<Erin> "There isn't any need to do anything with the rest, is there?" asks Erin, glancing at the stationary soldiers.
<Yomi> "And you believed it?" Yomi feels the need to ask.
<Nadia_Chekova> "That thing was not human!" Nadia gestures towards Elgin's corpse with her gun, spitting in his direction for good measure.
<El-Cideon> "I can always hope," she says, taking a close look at Elgin's corpse before directing her bodyguard towards it. "Hazel? That," she says, pointing the girl towards a weapon sheathed at Elgin's belt. The girl kneels down and removes a machete with a greasy-looking rusted blade before handing it over to Justine, who examines it closely. "Interesting."
<El-Cideon> "Where's Ivo? I'm hoping he'll have something more useful to me personally. As for the rest of them...well, I'll at least have to keep them until their commanders have left town."
* Nadia_Chekova wordlessly points to a smear of acid-scorched bones and rags.
<Erin> "Ivo was consumed by a digestive ooze. He's as gone as gone can be," replies Erin, staggering to her feet.
<Yomi> "He was a very bad person," Yomi adds.
<El-Cideon> Justine blinks. "Well. What in god's name happened to him--oh. I see." She approaches the remains with a hankerchief held over her nose. "This is quite ripe. Hazel, see if anything can be salvaged here?" The girl retrieves one of the dropped rifles and prods at what's left of Ivo.
<El-Cideon> Justine surveys each of you in turn as her bodyguard searches the mess that used to be a Nazi scientist. "Do any of you need medical attention? And what in blazes is wrong with her?" she asks, pointing to Rena.
<El-Cideon> "I got shot," Rena says.
<Yomi> "And let's leave it at that," Yomi suggests. "We all could use that attention you mentioned. How about it?"
<Nadia_Chekova> "If anyone has some bandages, that'd be nice," Nadia nods, blood oozing between her fingers as she keeps her hand clamped over her stomach, ignoring the trivial knife-scratches.
<Erin> "A few days in bed is what I need. I suppose the hotel isn't possible anymore," remarks Erin, wincing.
<El-Cideon> "Of course," Justine says, looking skeptical at the explanation for Rena. "If you don't mind, I'd like to take you all back to my headquarters and keep you out of sight until the remainder of the Nazi company has left Cape Town. I'll already have to manage a minor PR campaign to keep them from noticing anything about this battle."
<El-Cideon> Hazel walks up to Justine with a seared and melted bag held on the end of the rifle. Fragments of ruined parchment drip out of it. "Well, that's a disappointment," Justine says with a sigh.
* Yomi strides over to one of the surrendered soldiers, invading his personal space, and asks him directly, "Is Masha in Cape Town right now? Is she scheduled to arrive soon?"
* Nadia_Chekova is confident in her ability to escape any cage if Justine wants to do more than host them for a few days, but finds herself more curious at Yomi's question.
<El-Cideon> "She's with the Colonel and the others at the hotel. Who the hell are you people?" he says, seemingly in awe of the carnage perpetrated here.
<Yomi> "Using Ivo's rooms?" Yomi asks, blatantly ignoring the soldier's own question. "And what of Ivo's assistant?"
<El-Cideon> A confused frown. "She is Ivo's assistant. What do you want?"
<Yomi> "He has no others?" Yomi clarifies, concealing her own frown at the poorly-worded question. "Only she can continue his research?"
<El-Cideon> "She's the only other one I know of. Look, it's not like he told us grunts what he was up to. You can ask all you want, but I don't know anything else!"
<Nadia_Chekova> "Masha knows of the aurora," Nadia hisses, "We need to find out what she knows."
<Yomi> "Hmph." Yomi dismisses the soldier, and walks back, ignoring the bullet in her thigh to the best of her ability. "And this is the best opportunity we'll have."
<Erin> There is nothing Erin wishes to do more than rest, and her recalcitrant expression says it all. "Right now?" she asks, dispiritedly.
<El-Cideon> "What are you planning now?" Justine says with some irritation. "I think perhaps those of you who have been shot should recouperate before attempting anything else." She's distracted briefly while Hazel approaches with a familiar blue bracelet and a ring, also retrieved from Ivo's otherwise-ruined possessions.
<Nadia_Chekova> "Yes," Nadia reluctantly concedes, sagging with the effort of keeping herself together, "Perhaps when I don't have a hole in my stomach."
<Yomi> "We should have time until they leave," Yomi agrees.
* El-Cideon pockets the items. "There are cars outside. My men will clean up here, so let's get you all off the streets and out of sight now, hm?"
<El-Cideon> *Justine
* Nadia_Chekova is happy to go along with this for the moment, just wanting to clean herself up and lie down for a while. Her mother can rest somewhat easier now that her killer is brought to justice, but her mission isn't over yet.
<Yomi> "I hope I don't warrant the special car, this time around?"
<El-Cideon> Justine shakes her head. "No. And there are only three bedrooms at the retreat, so someone will have to double up unless you grew truly attached to your basement cell. But we can sort that out once your wounds are tended to. Shall we go?"
<El-Cideon> OOC: warp a head a bit?
* Yomi has no problems with sharing with Rena, so that shouldn't be an issue.
<Erin> OOC: Sure
<Nadia_Chekova> OOC: lets go
<El-Cideon> Justine has a pair of luxury sedans waiting outside to bring all of you back to the building she'd taken Erin and Yomi to days earlier. From the front it looks more like an audience hall or opera house than anything else. "This wasn't really meant to be a hotel," Justine says as you all get out. "The bedrooms are merely converted changing rooms. I just find it convenient to stay here sometimes when organizing my affairs." (more)
<El-Cideon> affairs." (more)
<Erin> "It is quite flash compared to home," points out Erin. "I never expecting my standard of living to improve outside of it."
<El-Cideon> Everyone's led inside and herded into an office of sort with cots; a doctor is summoned to deal with everyone in turn, at least tending to the immediate injuries. Removing bullets, patching everyone up and so on. Rena gives the man some pause. "Why is it green?" he says helplessly.
<Yomi> "Ask Ivo," Yomi suggests pleasantly.
<Erin> "Looking at her will strike you with colour-blindness."
* Nadia_Chekova shrugs helplessly, such questions being beyond her knowledge to answer.
<El-Cideon> "It's always been that color," Rena says. "It's not my fault everyone else is different." The doctor just shakes his head in disbelief, doing the best he can despite the strangeness he's presented with. Once everyone's dealt with, you're served dinner and sent to rooms along the hallway where Erin had stayed previously.
<El-Cideon> OOC: warping ahead to next morning, sec.
<El-Cideon> The next morning, you're summoned into the conference room where Erin and Yomi spoke to Justine together first. Justine herself is in and out constantly before having a chance to speak to, apparently busy coordinating something elsewhere in the city. For a moment your left alone with Justine's bodyguard watching over you. "I hope you're not planning on causing more trouble," she says with an unfriendly look. "You've put Justine in enough danger already."
<El-Cideon>  "You've put Justine in enough danger already."
<Erin> "How is your wound feeling, Nadia?" asks Erin, turning towards the other girl.
<Yomi> "Elgin was a demon. You think she could have given us both to him and Ivo and still escape with her book?" Yomi asks incredulously. "He couldn't be reasoned with, once he set his sights on a goal."
<Nadia_Chekova> "Much better, thanks for asking," Nadia smiles at Erin and pats her belly before regarding Hazel, "Ivo said that Marsha knows where my mother's necklace is. I intend to follow that up."
<El-Cideon> "Demons?" She rolls her eyes. "I don't know, did you try reasoning with him?"
<Yomi> "Not personally, but yes. He agreed, went away and then returned and slaughtered all in his way."
<El-Cideon> Hazel shrugs. "Just as long as you look for this woman a long ways aweay, it's fine by me."
<Erin> "You had better chase her out your little city, then. We'll get right onto that afterwards," replies Erin, turning her gaze back to the younger woman. "It is fortunate, you know, that we all came to an agreement in the end."
<El-Cideon> "Justine's trying to plant intel so's the Nazis can't ged a bead on what really happened. We'll have them out of here soon enough as long as you don't cause any more trouble. It'd be easier to make it look like Ivo got mugged or something if his body wasn't melted, though. And we could've dealt with you if we'd had to! You just talked Justine out of it."
<Erin> "You are doing wonders to assauge my guilt at putting you all in danger."
* Nadia_Chekova doesn't rise to the bait. No sense in advertising her skills to someone she doesn't trust, after all.
<Yomi> "What's done is done," Yomi states. "We can all bicker over it, or we could discuss our future plans with Justine."
<El-Cideon> "As long as they include you leaving," she says. Justine makes her way in and sits down at the head of the table, ascertaining the mood with a quick glance between you and Hazel. "Hazel, will you go check in with Karl or something? Get me an update on the Germans' movements," she says with a sigh. The girl leaves reluctantly.
<Yomi> "Always a pleasure to exchange words with your assistant," Yomi says brightly. "Now, then, just how impossible would it be to lure Ivo's assistant away from her hotel, you think?"
<El-Cideon> Another sigh. "I'm going to formally request that you not try. They've already had a squad with one of their leaders disappear. I think they'll be prepared for any more attempts at reducing their numbers."
<Yomi> "What about finding out the boat or plane she'll be using to leave and giving us the information with enough time to act upon it?"
<Nadia_Chekova> "I suppose if they're on their guard here it makes things more difficult," Nadia decides she can be patient, "If we can find out where they're heading next, we might stand a better chance of catching them less prepared."
<Erin> "I believe they may simply go back to Germany," pipes up Erin. "With Ivo no longer driving them onward..."
<El-Cideon> "My understanding is that they're returning to Germany once they've collected the squads dispatched to this corner of the world. They arrived on a ship called the Bismarck. I'm told they were schedule to leave tomorrow, but that may no longer be true given Ivo's disappearance." (more)
<El-Cideon> "Their colonel knows Ivo went into the city to meet with the circle of correspondents he had here. Most of them are dead, of course, but he knows my name and he's asked to speak to me tonight. I will lie as best I can, but this will be made more difficult by any rash actions on your part."
<Nadia_Chekova> Since Justine legitimately did help them out, Nadia isn't averse to doing her a favour. "I can be patient," she nods, looking to her friends to see their reactions.
<Erin> "Personally, I've had plenty of excitement. Enough to last me for a few weeks," admits Erin, her shoulders sagging. "Would you be meeting him privately?"
<El-Cideon> "Hah. I doubt their leaders will be going anywhere unaccompanied by this point. I've at least requested it be somewhere public, in the city, where they're less likely to incite open violence if they don't like what I have to say."
<Yomi> "If you think it'll help your chances, we could help you should things get out of hand," Yomi proposes. "We can stay out of sight."
<El-Cideon> "Personally, I would prefer to keep you as far from them as possible. They do know who you are, remember. Or some of you, at least."
<Yomi> With Elgin destroyed and Ivo's plan at least derailed, Yomi doesn't really bother to argue against Justine's wishes.
<El-Cideon> "If there's agreement on the lot of you keeping a low profile unti lthe Germans have left Cape Town, then...well, I was also wondering what this might be for." Justine produces a familiar blue stone bracelet and places it on the table, spinning it idly.
<El-Cideon> "I can tell it's magical, but the damned thing seems to do nothing."
* Nadia_Chekova shrugs helplessly, not knowing much about magic beyond what Erin and Yomi tell her.
<Yomi> "Since we're all wondering and putting our heads together, there's something we have where we can't quite divine its purpose," Yomi voices, thinking of the sacrificial snake idol.
<El-Cideon> "Oh?"
<Yomi> "Erin, could you do the honors?"
* Yomi leans over to whisper, "That snake. You still have it, right?"
<Erin> "Oh, that thing?" blinks Erin, reaching into her handbag and producing the snake idol.
<El-Cideon> Justine looks at it carefully for a moment. "Hm. Ugly. Aggressively unpleasant. I don't see anything special about it, however. What is it?"
<Yomi> "Ivo really wanted it, but we can't figure out why," Yomi elaborates. "It was used in sacrificial pagan rituals, apparently."
<El-Cideon> "Oh my. How ghastly," Justine says, though not sounding as disturbed by the prospect as probably most people would be.
<Yomi> "Any idea why that creep would want it? It's not magical in the least, from what we can tell."
<El-Cideon> "I haven't the foggiest. Perhaps he's a collector of unsightly objects d'art?"
<Erin> "Judging from what he said, though, he wanted to destroy old relics in some kind of ritual sacrifice," replies Erin, glancing at Yomi. "Personally, I think he was simply mad, but I suppose it could constitute as a component in some incantation..."
<Yomi> "Ah." Yomi shrugs. "Perhaps. We believe the bracelet in question is used in tandem with them, both being components to the ritual Erin is speaking of."
<El-Cideon> "Well, if someone wanted to work a great feat of magic, a sacrifice of some sort is sometimes an effective way of fueling it."
<El-Cideon> "Oh? How so?" Justine looks at the bracelet speculatively.
<Yomi> "The proper alignment of the stars could well be a factor in his rituals, for all we know. We never quite got to ask, I'm afraid. What we know for certain is that he traveled throughout the world gathering tokens such as that idol, so it stands to reason both are connected, with the bracelet serving as a focus for the ritual?"
<El-Cideon> "Well, I can tell the bracelet has some function, or was meant to. It just doesn't do anything when I focus on it. Perhaps some special circumstances are required after all?" She shrugs. "Curious. It seems neither of us has sufficient information to draw a conclusion here." (more)
<El-Cideon> "In any event, with any luck I'll be able to persuade the remaining Germans that their search is fruitless and they should simply leave. You can hide out here as long as they remain in the city, assuming you don't plan to take further action against them."
<Yomi> "Not in Cape Town, I think."
* Nadia_Chekova nods her assent.
<El-Cideon> Justine stands up. "Very well, then. I'll leave you to rest up from your ordeal and await the menace to leave town."
<El-Cideon> ~